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29 Small Ways To Make Your Kitchen Look Like An “After” Shot On HGTV
Your kitchen’s going to be so popular it might need its own booking agent.
1. Upgrade your plain walls with a peel-and-stick tile backsplash that has a combination of white, black, and gray horizontal tiles. It’ll give your kitchen a more finished look, but without the price tag or permanency of the real thing.
Amazon
Promising review: “We did a kitchen facelift this summer, repainting and making everything look fresh. We were looking at the The Home Depot version of these, which are more than double the price. We decided to go for these instead, and they are amazing!! I put them up myself in about two hours. I did buy the adhesive spray just in case, but it wasn’t needed, even for the few I had to peel off and re-stick to center correctly. These aren’t too difficult to apply but definitely require patience. It is 100% worth the buy for a DIY affordable update!” —Hope Consilvio
Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $25.16.
2. To create privacy and magic in one, stick some prismatic window film onto your glass and watch your kitchen erupt with rainbows. It clings to the glass without any glues or chemicals, and can be easily removed and reused multiple times.
Check out one former BuzzFeed Shopping editor’s writeup on the Rabbitgoo rainbow privacy film for more deets on why it’s so popular!
Promising review: “Buy it just for the prisms! I can’t tell you how surprised and delighted we were at the rainbow effect this film has. I bought it to make a window overlooking the street more private, and I thought I would appreciate seeing the rainbow colors on the window itself. But then when the light was shining on it at the right angle, it cast these beautiful rainbow colors on the wall. So I bought a second roll to put on one of our master bedroom windows that overlooks our neighbor’s patio so I don’t have to draw the curtains. In the morning now, the light comes in at just the right angle to pass through the rainbow prism and cast beautiful rainbow colors on the wall…and the bed…and the cat.” —J. B.
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 11 sizes).
3. If your kitchen floor has some cracked tile, use a tile and stone repair kit to make it like new again. It’ll repair cracks and holes, fix scratches and marks, and mend chips and dents.
Promising review: “I was skeptical about being able to conceal hairline cracks in our bathroom tile that is marbled. After matching the base color, filling the cracks and waiting for the areas to dry, I honestly had a hard time finding the cracks again to apply the clear lacquer. Wish I had found this product sooner. Will recommend to all my friends.” —Aileen G.
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
4. Add some light to a low-lit kitchen with an under-cabinet lighting kit. These are great because they just tape onto the bottom of your cabinets, which means they’re out of sight and won’t damage your wall. They’re also remote controlled and have a dimmer and a timer, so you can set it and forget it.
This set offers 13 feet of LED lights.
Promising review: “I put these strips under a set of kitchen cabinets. They were very easy to install. Now I can have a very soft glow or brighter light in the kitchen rather than turning on the overhead pot lights. I love that it has a remote and the ability to dim or brighten the lights. Absolutely will buy another set or two for the remaining cabinets.” —FL12629AZ
Get it from Amazon for $13.59+ (available in cool white, natural white, or warm white).
5. Does your cabinetry have outdated handles? Swap ’em out for something more contemporary, like these black matte-steel cabinet pulls that would look great in any kitchen.
Promising review: “Perfect! They were exactly what I was going for! Great quality, very durable, and actually have some weight to them. Great purchase for replacing all of the hardware in my kitchen and bathroom for the camper I am remodeling. Definitely would recommend, especially at such an amazing price. Great value for great quality!” —Summertime
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in quantities one through 60 and in black, gold, or silver).
6. And if your wooden cabinets also need a mini makeover, use a bottle of restorative wood polish and conditioner. Thanks to a mixture of carnauba wax and beeswax, old wood surfaces that have seen better days will have a gorgeous, deep luster after applying a coat or two of this.
amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: “Used this on 30-year-old wooden kitchen cabinets. These cabinets have not been regularly oiled and cleaned with wood cleaner, and the ones beneath the sink suffer from the inevitable water damage associated with that location. In an effort to spruce them up a bit without resorting to the expense of new cabinets, I thought to try this product because of all the rave reviews as well as convincing photos. Initially, when you put the product on, it looks significantly better. I was skeptical about how it would look after I wiped it off. When I did, however, there was very little to remove. The wood must’ve been extremely dry because it did absorb quite a bit. I slopped a lot on there too. The resulting finish looked richer and deeper than before. It’s already substantially improved the look, and the worn areas are no longer noticeable. It’s clearly worth considering if you have an older wooden piece with a finish you’d like to quickly and easily improve yourself or if you have a similar situation with your cabinets.” —Shopper X
Get it from Amazon for $9.98.
7. However, if you’re thinking you want to make a really big change, use this cabinet makeover kit to completely transform the way your cabinetry looks. Each kit provides enough white paint to cover 100 square feet of cabinet surface, which is the typical amount of an average kitchen. The paint is specially formulated for cabinetry made from wood, laminated, or metal — primed or not. It comes with all the tools needed, and you don’t need any additional materials to get it done. No stripping, sanding, or priming either! It’s really that easy.
Promising review: “Amazing! Amazing! Amazing. Did take more than one coat though. My cabinets were bare wood, and I still needed a couple of coats. (Five to be exact, but that was just me being extra.) My kitchen is medium size, not too big, and it only took up one can. But I still went over a couple more times just to get a nice coating. I also let it sit for some days and saw the wood was sucking up the paint in some areas so I went over it again. The project ideally does take one day like the promotion video says, but one day as in 24 hours. This took my kitchen from looking like a cheap rental apartment kitchen to a high-quality kitchen with just this paint and new knobs. The paint is perfect for cabinets — it’s not too thick, so you still see the wood grains. It comes with EVERYTHING you need. I didn’t have to buy a thing. The project is super easy, paint dries fast, and I did it at first by removing the cabinets, but it wasn’t necessary at all. Just make sure you don’t leave any dripping because it would make your cabinets look cheap. I would recommend EVERYONE to purchase this and give your cabinets a chance before making a big investment in new cabinets. Wood is wood, and it can be refinished.” —Brandon Moronta
Get it from Amazon for $72.66+ (available in two sizes and 11 colors).
8. Use a magnetized dry erase board on your fridge to keep yourself organized without sacrificing style. You can easily keep track of all the eggs, blueberries, and other produce you’ll need for your next grocery run.
Promising review: “I have it to write down things to buy. Very convenient and came with a good number of markers. It’s really simple to clean. I use a wet cloth when I don’t want to use the eraser and that works easily also.” —Stephanie Rios
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
9. Garbage disposals can can pretty stinky and gross without routine cleaning, so make sure yours is in tip top shape with some garbage disposal cleaner. A box comes with four packs, and one pack uses magical blue foam to completely rid your disposal of lingering smells and foodstuffs. Routine cleaning of your disposal will cut down on more labor intense and possibly expensive plumbing jobs later down the road.
10. If you have some appliances that you just don’t like the look of, consider a roll of stainless-steel-effect contact paper that will have them looking completely different, all for less than $20.
Promising review: “I saw this advertised in on one of those top 30 things for your home under $30 from amazon lists/articles and was very skeptical, but also figured what did I really have to lose. I am beyond blown away. It was super easy to trim to fit and apply to our black dishwasher, looks phenomenal, is super easy to clean. I worried the frequent sanitize loads we run and associated heat might compromise the adhesion, but so, far so good. It has also fooled and then impressed many a family and friends who complimented us on our new dishwasher that finally matches the rest of the kitchen.” —Amazon Customer
Get an 18-inch x 6-foot roll from Amazon for $15.88.
11. Use a wooden stove top cover to give yourself some additional kitchen countertop space. Instead of investing in a bulky piece of furniture that might make your kitchen feel cramped and cluttered, get something like this that will convert your stove top to a countertop when it’s not in use.
Suburban Farmhouse / Etsy
You can also get it personalized with your family’s last name or initials.
Suburban Farmhouse is a Black- and family-owned small business based in New Jersey creating personalized home decor.
Promising review: “I’m in LOVE! 😍😍😍 This piece EXCEEDED my expectations!!! It is absolutely beautiful, and it goes so well with my kitchen! It’s functional and gives us extra space. Thank you!” —Lakesha Golden
Get it from Suburban Farmhouse on Etsy for $103.07+ (available in six stain colors and eight styles).
12. These acrylic drawers for your fridge have wheels in the back that allow you to easily roll the drawer forward and backward so you can reach whatever you need. Each one comes with two adjustable dividers so you can divvy up each drawer into sections for extra organization.
amazon.com, Amazon
YouCopia is a woman-owned small business that specializes in home storage solutions.
Promising review: “I bought an initial set, different sizes. Then went back and bought more because I liked them so much. I also plan to buy a complete set for my daughter and daughter-in-law as Christmas presents. Really made well. I can FINALLY get to the small jars that always end up at the back of the fridge behind bigger items!” —Linda C. Little
Get it from Amazon for $19.19+ (available in three widths).
13. If some of your kitchen’s wood surfaces have deep marks or scratches, try a pack of six furniture markers that you use to cover small nicks and cuts. Each kit comes with the most common wood colors (cherry, mahogany, walnut, black, maple, and oak) and matching crayons for easy filling when the damaged area is a little deep.
amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: “I am thoroughly impressed! We have a 115-plus-year-old house and we only have hardwood in our downstairs hall and den. We didn’t want to spend tons of money because we are probably going to be replacing the flooring in a few years. I’m actually still working on this as I’m writing this, but I am so impressed that I just had to write a review right away. The only ‘negative’ I have is that the colors are darker than the caps show, but not a big deal. For the money, you can’t go wrong.” —Borg
Get them from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in a set of 12 or 17).
14. Is your kitchen’s ceiling covered with unsightly recessed lighting? Use this trusty conversion kit to turn any existing recessed lighting into a pendant or other light fixture.
Amazon
It has a six-step installation process and includes all the parts you’ll need. The brace adjusts to any size between 4 and 6 inches and fits the standard base sockets. They can be used on sloped ceilings up to 45 degrees, works in damp locations, has a 50-pound maximum load rating, and is paintable with no visible screws or hardware.
Promising review: “This was a pretty easy installation considering the work is on the ceiling. I’ve been wanting to change out the two can lights over my sink for years, so I started investigating the easiest possible way to do so. Ran across this item, and watched the video on YouTube. What the heck, I thought! Rewatched the video before installation, looked at the directions on both the converter kit and the pendant light, gathered the necessary tools described in all instructions, and set upon my mission. The hardest part (for me) was getting the self-tapping screws started. I’m pretty pleased with the outcome, I must say! By the way, I’m a 55-year-old female who has worked at a bank all of my life. Yes! It was that easy. I would highly recommend it.” —Trisch Reeve
Get it from Amazon for $22.88.
15. Cover unsightly kitchen flooring with adhesive floor tiles. The blue, tan, and white Moroccan-inspired design looks hand painted, and the tiles are super easy to install, no grout or special tools needed.
Each tile is 12″ x 12″ in size.
Promising review: “These are awesome! I have hated my kitchen floor since I moved in. I rent, so I didn’t think I could afford to change it. I found these though and it now looks 110% better!!” —Mic Fo
Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $13.90+ (available in blue or gray).
16. Or just add a splash of pattern to your kitchen’s floor with a vinyl floor mat that looks like eclectic tiles. Vinyl is the perfect material for kitchens because it’s really thin (aka you won’t trip over its edges) and very easy to clean.
Artmat Home / Etsy
Artmat Home is a small business based in Israel making printed vinyl mats, placemats, and bamboo rugs.
Promising review: “These are perfect mats for the kitchen to protect my wood floors. Look great and the thin profile means they stay in place and there isn’t a rug edge to trip on — very happy with them” —Julie Hurd
Get it from Artmat Home on Etsy for $28+ (available in 13 sizes).
17. If you want your fridge to look like something out of a magazine, try these fruit and vegetable containers for folks who love efficiency. The containers are stored within their own colander, so you can drain your produce and then nestle them right in. There’s an adjustable divider in each, so you can store multiple types of produce in one container. Each one has vents that can be adjusted for fruits (vent stays open) and veggies (vent stays closed). Oh, and they’re airtight, which will prolong the life of whatever you’re storing.
Promising review: “I absolutely love these multifunctional storage containers. They’re the perfect all in one solution for storing produce. The removable colanders work great for washing fruits and vegetables prior to storing. There’s also a removable drainage valve on the bottom of the medium and large containers to drain any standing water. I really like that I’m able to store more than one item in the medium and large containers using the partitions. The air vents located on the lids aid in preserving produce longer. They are crafted with space saving and organization in mind. Being able to store one inside the other is an exceptional feature, which frees up space. I love that they’re BPA free and very durable. Overall, I’m very pleased with the functionality of these storage containers and the ease of using them. I highly recommend them to everyone.” —Betty Boop
Get it from Amazon for $30.99+ (available in three quantities and green, white, or gray).
18. Touch up wall and door scratches and nicks with a bottle of multi-surface touch up paint. The 12 colors available are the most common paint colors you’ll find in homes, and you can use the brand’s free color matching tool to determine which of the colors best match your walls.
If you’re unsure of what color to get, I highly suggest you use the brand’s free color chart tool to help you determine which is the right match for your walls.
Soto is a small business that makes paint touch up kits.
Promising review: “I decided to try this to cover up some of the chips of missing paint in my kitchen. It works perfectly. The bottle is a little bigger than a tube of Wite-Out, but it’s going to last me a long time. The paint went on smoothly and dried quickly. I am very happy with this product.” —JMar
Get it from Soto on Amazon for $18.95 (available in 24 colors).
19. Create a special drawer for spices with a spice rack drawer organizer. It comes in a 10-foot roll that you cut to size to fit right into the drawer of your choice. The roll provides enough length to organize 30-plus full-size spice bottles.
YouCopia is a woman-owned small business that specializes in home storage solutions.
Promising review: “This is one of my favorite things I’ve ever purchased from Amazon! The fact that they are so customizable allows you to cut them for any drawer size! I think this will be my go-to gift for all of my friends who love cooking as much as I do! Freeing up cabinet space and having something that can easily be rinsed off in the sink makes this a for-sure buy!” —momonono
Get a 10-ft roll from Amazon for $16.99 (available in gray or beige).
20. Use a wooden peg board insert to organize any deep kitchen cabinet drawer. There are three different sizes to choose from, and each one comes with enough pegs to completely customize your drawer’s needs. This will be a lifesaver for anyone with a kitchen that has a real lack of upper cabinets that would traditionally hold tableware.
Amazon
Promising review: “Moved into a new home with less space for display of dishes. I had to place my plates and such in a drawer. This pegboard separates are the best. Sturdy, easy to assemble, and adjust. My drawer was not a size offered, but they were easy to have cut to size. Highly recommend!” —Dorothy C. Vuono
Get it from Amazon for $97.99+ (available in three sizes).
21. Give your countertops the look of stone with a roll of faux granite peel-and-stick paper. All you do is cut it to size (there are grid marks on the back of the paper for accurate and straight cutting) and then stick it onto your existing countertops.
Promising review: “If you expect perfection, buy granite or marble for $4,500.. If you are like me and just want something that looks fantastic, buy Beeline contact paper…..it’s amazing and easy…👏👏🤩” —ronald kilmer
Get it from Amazon for $12.88+ (available in four sizes).
22. Or if you want something a little lighter in color, try this faux Carrara marble surface cover that also sticks right onto existing surfaces.
Amazon, amazon.com
Promising review: “Best solution ever!! I do not have the money for a new vanity right now. Insert DIY project of covering my ugly pink bathroom vanity in marble contact paper. It looks 100% better and it’s super durable. It’s a little tricky to work with at first and then you get the hang of it. I’m buying more for my half bath. Update: My vanity still looks great a couple of months later! I decided to do my tabletop in my laundry room and it looks great too. Tips: Make sure there is nothing on the surface as bumps will show through with the tiniest of debris. Also, one roll is not enough — always buy more than you think you’ll need!” —Natalie Evans
Get it from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in six sizes).
23. If the grout in your kitchen is looking a little worse for wear, consider a bottle of grout cleaner to fix it right up. Grout is very porous, so stains can go pretty deep. This is a great way to take on tough ones because you spray it on and let it sit for a few minutes so it can really penetrate the surface. After that, use a brush to scrub away whatever’s left over.
Promising review: “I bought it to clean the tiles and grout in the kitchen. My boyfriend inherited this house from his mother, and the tiles and grout had not been cared for properly in years. I knew the grout was supposed to be white because of other areas that had been covered with rugs. I did as the instructions said — sprayed on and let sit for a few minutes. I used a wire brush on the grout and a softer scrub brush on the tile. WOW! I’m super impressed at how well this works! The tiles look brand-new and bright! The grout is CLEAN! The cleaner cut through years of dirt, grease, and oil! Also, for those of you with sensitive noses, this stuff hardly has a smell at all.” —AmazonAddict
Get it from Amazon for $14.98+ (available in a varity of size options).
24. And if no amount of cleaning will remove the grout stains, this grout pen will make it like new again. Grout is a magnet for grime, and no matter how hard you try, some stains just won’t disappear. If that’s the case, this will cover up to 150 feet of grout with an opaque coat of white paint.
The grout pen comes in 10 other colors. Check them all out here.
Promising review: “I just bought my first house, and because of COVID I have not had the funds I wanted to fix it up. This pen was cheap, and the backsplash in my new kitchen was an eyesore. I wasn’t expecting much because of the price, but I am absolutely stunned. My kitchen looks so much better! It was easy to use, no odor, and quick! I did two coats because the color was dark brown. Some places I did more, but I didn’t mind doing it because it was actually really satisfying. I used one pen for the area plus some. Definitely recommend this product!” —Kim
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available with a narrow or wide tip).
25. Slap a dirty/clean magnet onto your dishwasher that lets everyone know if the dishes are clean or dirty. If you live in a home with more than one person, this is an absolute must.
Sally Elshorafa/BuzzFeed
Promising review: “Love the red and green colors. Strong magnet and well made. Very sturdy slide plate. Looks great on my stainless steel dishwasher. Well worth the money!” —Msleigh1202
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in six styles).
26. Free up countertop space with a magnetic paper towel holder that’ll stick right onto your fridge. Seriously, I actually have this thing and it’s a game-changer. I didn’t know how much space my old holder was taking up until I switched to this fridge magnet one. It also looks very chic!
Amazon, amazon.com
27. Try a bottle of stainless steel cleaner and polisher to rid your appliances of smudges and fingerprints. It uses natural coconut oil to clean, polish, and protect stainless steel surfaces from streaks, smudges, and residue.
Includes a large microfiber cloth.
Therapy Clean is a family-owned small business based in New Hampshire making plant-based cleaning products for the home.
Promising review: “I bought this to keep our new stainless fridge clean. I’d tried Formula 409 and Windex, but they both left streaks. This stuff is great! Not only does it clean and polish, but it also removed the sticker residue from the price tag and leaves NO streaks! I was worried keeping a stainless fridge looking new would be difficult, but this makes it so easy. Spray on and use the microfiber towel to wipe with the ‘grain’ of the metal, or even just use small circular movements — it doesn’t matter either way; comes up shiny. It doesn’t leave any residue and resists fingerprints. So happy I found this product.” —Amber Morales
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
28. Love to entertain but don’t have the necessary storage space for your stemware? Install a under-cabinet wineglass holder so they’re easily accessible but not taking up countertop or cabinet space.
Promising review: “I really like this wine rack! I needed a nice, space-saving solution for wine glasses that are too tall to go in my glass cabinet, and this rack fits the bill. It was simple to install and looks great. Good buy!” —Cycle Mom
Get it from Amazon for $19.93+ (available in two sizes, four colors, and packs of two).
29. And make sure your white wine is always chilled, courtesy of this wine rack that smartly stacks one bottle on top of another. No more loose bottles rolling around your fridge!
Amazon
Promising review: “Fantastic product. Sturdy and stacks very well. Holds the wine with no worries of anything falling apart or out of the rack itself. Looks beautiful, giving your fridge a great look of organization.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
Your kitchen to you after you make all these great changes:
Paramount Pictures / Via giphy.com
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
